"Today's dialogue will hopefully be the first of several rounds of dialogue," Lam told a press conference after a two-hour meeting with student leaders who have spearheaded more than three weeks of rallies that have caused disruption in the city.
But Lam, who called the talks "constructive", said the government's firm position is to follow China's insistence that candidates for the city's next leadership election must be vetted by a pro-Beijing committee.
"If the students cannot accept this position, I am afraid we will continue to have different views," she said.